If you’ve been hanging around the basement for a bit, you know I’m usually elbow-deep in the “heavy-duty” tanks of the 80s—the original 6-switch Atari 2600 consoles. But today, I’m putting doing a Atari 2600+ review (the 2023 re-release) to see if it’s a true successor or just a fancy plastic mimic.

Watch my video review on YouTube:

The “Modern” Atari Experience

Atari is getting a bit rare these days, and hunting down a working console that doesn’t need a full capacitor overhaul can be a chore. I found during my Atari 2600+ review that this console solves that. It’s designed to play your original 2600 and 7800 cartridges on a modern TV via HDMI.

My First Impressions at the Bench:

• The Look: It’s got that iconic wood-grain vibe, and the Atari logo actually glows!
• The Feel: Honestly? It feels a bit light. Like, “if I sneeze, it might fly off the desk” light.
• The Tech: It uses USB-C for power and HDMI for video, making it much easier to set up than the old RF modulators.

Atari 2600+ Review Gameplay: From Haunted Houses to Dodgy Drivers

I decided to pop in a few classics during this Atari 2600 to see how the software emulation holds up.

1. Haunted House: I spent a good chunk of time as a pair of floating eyes trying to find my way through a dark maze. I got attacked by an “X thing,” chased a ghost, and tried to pick up a wand. It’s just as creepy and confusing as I remember.

1. Dodge ‘Em: This one is a classic two-player car game. I’ll admit it—I was pretty bad at it. Switching lanes to avoid the other car is a lot harder than it looks when you’re out of practice!

The Verdict of the Atari 2600+ review: Should You Buy It?

If you have a box of old Atari cartridges in your attic and you don’t want to fight with a fuzzy CRT television, the Atari 2600+ is a great, affordable entry point. It’s newer tech, so it’s likely to last a while without needing the specialized repairs I usually do on vintage boards.

However, if you’re a purist who needs that “heavy” 1980s build quality, you might find the plastic a little on the cheap side.

Need a Repair in Southern Alberta?

While the 2600+ is a fun modern toy, there’s nothing like the real thing. If you have an original Atari, Commodore 64, or vintage Nintendo that has stopped working, bring it to the shop!

• Location: Raymond, Alberta
• Service: Precision micro-soldering, board recapping, and vintage restoration.
• Book an Appointment: Visit secondwindsales.ca to coordinate a bench time.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Basement Bulletin for first dibs on my latest vintage finds!